China's Lenovo to build research centre in Taiwan: report

Chinese high-tech giant Lenovo plans to set up a research and development centre in Taiwan as the firm tries to take advantage of warming cross-strait ties, a report said Tuesday.

The world's fourth-largest maker of personal computers will use the island's technological know-how to boost its global competitiveness, the Commercial Times reported, citing Lenovo executive Ma Jianrong.

Ma said Taiwan has played an important role in Lenovo's global manufacturing network, adding that the Chinese company has spent four to five billion US dollars annually in recent years on Taiwan-made computer components.

Lenovo will increase its purchases in Taiwan as its business continues to expand there, Ma was quoted as saying.

(c) 2009 AFP